It’s like no matter where you go, parking is an ever-present problem and it doesn’t help matters that vehicles have gotten bigger in size in the last decade.
Parking problems come up at the mall, the grocery store, and at apartment complexes. Most people appreciate any efforts made by management to make the parking situation as straightforward as possible.
Residing in an apartment complex has its benefits like not needing to mow the grass, no responsibility to repair a broken water heater, and the time saved on only having to spend an hour cleaning the entire space. Though on the other hand, residing in an apartment complex means that you probably do not have access to any type of dedicated parking or garage area either. If you are living in such a place, parking particularly can be a huge hassle. Whether you are getting home from work a little late and can’t find a place to park or you live in a colder area like Buffalo and you don’t have anything to protect your car from the harsh climates, this complex parking issue is usually one of the largest downsides of apartment life.
The following are a couple tips on what you can do to make the most of your parking situation currently and keep your vehicle safe and secure.
Typical Tenant Parking Issues
There’s nothing more annoying for most people than to coming home at the apartment complex late one Saturday to see that there are no available parking spots in the immediate area and having to leave their car parked two blocks away from the house.
In many areas such as college towns, the parking for tenants is utilized on weekend nights mostly by guests of other residents or party-goers. Property managers need to walk the tight line between keeping you happy and making sure to do the right thing.
Never Neglect to Lock Up Your Valuables
Apartment parking lots are opportune spots for thieves, unfortunately. This is mostly since these kinds of lots usually are not monitored by surveillance cameras or any type of nighttime patrol.
The way you can best guard yourself from break-ins is to always ensure that all your valuables are brought out of your car and that you do not let anything remain visible in the front or back seating areas.
If it’s something you don’t think is very valuable (such as a phone charger), you still should attempt to keep everything in the glove box to prevent someone from breaking the window if it’s something they might be tempted to get.
Additionally, if you arrive back home late after work (or you are scheduled at night and don’t arrive home until early morning), you will notice the best results if you park your car right under or very close to the street lamp to feel comfortable leaving and entering your car.
Purchase a Cover for Winter
Winter can be harsh for your vehicle, particularly if you do not have a nice, cozy garage for stowing it. But just because you don’t have a garage doesn’t mean you need to deal with de-icing and scraping every morning prior to leaving for work.
Invest in a cover for your car and see what the forecast is like so you can utilize it every time nasty weather strikes. This is going to save you enormous amounts of time during mornings and it will additionally help with protecting your car from damages.
Tip: Car covers also have been known with helping to deter thieves from stealing from cars.
Speak With Apartment Management Regarding Purchasing a Parking Spot
We have all been in that situation. You have just gotten home from a tiresome day at the office and you have gone around the whole parking lot twice to locate a parking spot, but you come up short each time.
There is nothing more irritating than knowing that you need to park far from your apartment or you’ll have to leave the complex completely to locate a parking area. At that moment, you just want to go home and take a load off, but you must find a secure place for your vehicle first.
A few apartment complexes assist with this problem by letting tenants “purchase” a parking spot for an additional fee that’s added to their monthly rent. Though this can feel like a means of squeezing more cash from you, it may be worth the money if you’re regularly coming across the same issue of not being able to locate a parking spot near your place.
You can also bypass this parking hassle by biking, walking or making use of any form of public transportation that is accessible to you for performing chores around town or going grocery shopping. You will get to retain your space on the street and it is a much better alternative for the environment.
Make Sure You’re Aware of Visitor Parking Regulations
If you are planning on brings visitors to your apartment for a couple days, they are most likely going to require a place to put their vehicle near your residence.
Take a quick review of your lease to refresh what it mentions about visitor parking just in case. It should relay the time they can stay, where they are directed to park and any limitations on parking for visitors. Some apartment buildings might not even let visitors park at all so make sure that you give careful attention to the regulations.
You can also look around the apartment lot for parking signs. Usually, you will see visitor parking areas in the lot that are for those purposes. Make sure you ask the property manager if you require special permissions for long-term visitors (such as a relative) and if they should get some sort of special parking lot permit or sticker for their car.
Whatever you decide to do, do not assume that your guest will not be towed for breaking any rules. That’s the last thing you want — to be the one responsible for your visitor’s vehicle being towed away!
